When Others Passing By Behold

The second Governor of Plymouth Colony - Edward Winslow - spoke of the Native people with whom he often traveled and their practice of maintaining a mnemonic story line within the landscape - in his 1624 chronicle "Good News from New England". We can see similar highly effective oral cultural traditions around the earth, with, for example, the dreaming tracks or songlines in what is now known as the Australian continent.

"Instead of Records and Chronicles, they take this course, where any remarkable act is done, in memory of it, either in the place, or by some path-way near adjoining, they make a round hole in the ground about a foot deep, and as much over, which when others passing by behold, they enquire the cause and occasion of the same, which being once known, they are careful to acquaint all men, as occasion serveth therewith. And lest such holes should be filled, or grown up by any accident, as men pass by they will oft renew the same: By which means many things of great Antiquity are fresh in memory. So that as a man travelleth, if he can understand his guide, his journey will be the less tedious, by reason of the many historical Discourses will be related unto him."